PEORIA — The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission and the consultant who helped relaunch economic development in the region are finally square.

After months of sometimes contentious discussions, the commission voted without dissent Thursday night to settle the check with Frank Knott’s ViTAL Economy firm, paying roughly 85 cents on the dollar for Knott’s last invoice on a six-figure contract.

Of the $54,370.77 that Knott was seeking, Tri-County will pay out $46,500, with $20,000 of that coming up front and the remainder in eight monthly installments.

“I think it’s probably a relief to both parties. ... We’re working hard to be able to get our focus back where it needs to be,” commission chairman Larry Whitaker said after the vote.

This was one of a number of issues that had dogged the commission in the last six months as commission members worked to get out of the economic development business and return to the core planning work that has long been the group’s focus.

Knott’s firm had contracts totaling more than $500,000 for work done through the commission over the last several years, mostly for the purpose of crafting a successor group — Focus Forward Central Illinois — to some of the economic development efforts housed under what was then the Heartland Partnership. That work was paid for through a mixture of local funds, grants and private money.

FFCI retains a separate contract with Knott as its own organization.

Commission members also heard Thursday that:

►Staff are applying for a federal TIGER planning grant that could bring in up to $3 million for work to forge ahead on planning work for the long-running Eastern Bypass project that, once finished, would effectively complete the Interstate 474/Illinois Route 6 ring road.

►Multiple properties are being eyed as possible alternative locations for the commission to move to from its digs at One Technology Plaza that are owned by Peoria County. The monthly rent is just more than $6,000, though a recent concern has become how much the commission spends on paid, deck parking, particularly for attendees at meetings.

Chris Kaergard can be reached at ckaergard@pjstar.com or 686-3135. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisKaergard.